CANCUN, Mexico – DePaul trailed by as many as 22 points midway through the second half before coming back but the deficit was too much to overcome in a 70-61 loss to Western Kentucky. Cleveland Melvin led the Blue Demons with 22 points and 13 rebounds while also eclipsing the 1,000-point plateau.

For the second straight night, DePaul struggled offensively as the team combined to shoot just .379 from the field. Moses Morgan knocked down DePaul’s only three-pointer of the night as the Blue Demons combined to go just 1-for-14 from three-point range.

DePaul (2-3) trailed 60-38 with 9:35 left before a 23-8 run pulled the Blue Demons to within seven points with just over a minute left in the game. Five different players scored during the run with Durrell McDonald capping the flurry with a steal and dunk.

McDonald’s dunk would be DePaul’s final basket of the night as Western Kentucky (3-2) knocked down two free throws for the 70-61 final.

Following the tournament, Melvin was named to the Riviera Division All-Tournament team along with T.J. Price of Western Kentucky, Iowa's Roy Devyn Marble and Aaron White and Malcolm Armstead from Wichita State. Wichita State's Cleanthony Early was selected as the MVP.

Western Kentucky was led by 16 points off the bench from Jamal Crook.

Up next for the Blue Demons is a game against Fairfield on Tuesday, Nov. 27. The Blue Demons and Stags are scheduled for an 8 p.m. start at Allstate Arena.

Postgame Notes- DePaul leads the all-time series with Western Kentucky by a 10-6 margin... Wednesday was the first meeting between the two programs since the 1995-96 season.- Cleveland Melvin’s first basket made him the 47th player in program history to reach 1,000 career points... he finished the game with 1,020 points and moved into 44th place on DePaul’s all-time scoring list.- Melvin also recorded his first double-double of the season and the eighth of his career... he has now scored in double-figures in 19 straight games.- Brandon Young took sole possession of 20th on DePaul all-time assist chart... he has 281 career assists... Young’s 12 points extended his streak to nine straight games in double-figures.